Award-winning ramen restaurant Bia Rebel to close
Award-wining ramen noodle restaurant Bia Rebel is set to close, writing on Instagram that it had fallen victim to soaring prices.
The Ormeau Road eatery, which started out at St George’s Market in 2017 and is run by top chef Brian Donnelly and his partner Jenny Holland, was given a glowing review by Observer food critic Jay Rayner who hailed the quality of its creations despite the low prices.
Writing on Insta they said: “Guys, you may have noticed a spate of stories about restaurants closing around Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, we are one of them. Friday 24 June will be our last ramen-slinging service.
“There are lots of reasons for this, but a recent letter from the gas company announcing a 42 percent increase was the final straw.
“As we predicted at the start of lockdown, lots of small independent businesses would be devastated by pandemic countermeasures. The loss in trade that we all suffered put us in an impossible position re: meeting these insane price hikes.
“We started Bia Rebel Ramen in St. George’s Market in 2017, then got our food truck by the Big Fish. And then we moved into the Ormeau Road, which made us part of this vibrant little community.
“We are sad to have to shut our doors, our customers were so good to us over the years and we will miss you! And — sad to have to say this — the current economic and government environment here feels like it is almost designed to kill off small independent businesses like ours, and the many others who are struggling right now.
“Food businesses have notoriously tight-margins. There is no way mom and pop shops can absorb 42 percent increases in heat bills — as well as higher taxes and food costs. And we certainly don’t expect our customers to foot the increases. I mean, surely our betters in government can do the math, right?
“Not sure yet what our next steps will be. We are going to take some time off and think about it.
“We will be keeping our Instagram active, and we will be sharing great food content once we wind down from the daily noodle-making grind.
“Just a final word to our followers, supporters and customers. You guys are the absolute best. You have given us award after award, you gave us love on review sites and on social, and you turned up week after week to slurp our noodles.
“You guys stuck with us through the pandemic. We consider you our friends and our foodie family.
“Brian is a born chef and food leader (pardon the pretentious phrase). He will continue sharing his passion for delicious, high-quality, REAL food, with you guys – just not in restaurant form, for now.
“How, you ask? Well, you can sign up to his soon-to-be launched food newsletter, of course! He aims to send out a regular posts on food, wine, business, and life, starting during our road trip to France in July. The link is in our bio.”
